Pin-setting mechanism.



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PIN-SETTING- MECHANISM'..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

Application filed October 21, 1916. Serial No. 126,880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUGO LOEWENBACH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pin- Settin Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The-present invention relates to new and useful improvements in pin setting mechanisms for bowling alleys.

It is primarily the obj ect of the present invention to provide a pin setting 'mechanism embodying an arrangement whereby when the pins `are knocked down by the ball they retain their approximate position in the alley, without however, interfering with the passage of a ball through the alley, so that said pins may be most readily raised to their normal up-standing position, it being more specifically an object to provide recesses in the alley into which the pins are adapted to fall upon being struck by the ball.

A still further object resides in the provision of a pin setting mechanism as above described which may be associated with a bowling alley in a manner comprising an exceedingly simple and durable general structure whereby to promote economy in manufacture and use.

A still further object resides in the provision of an arrangement whereby the pins may be locked in their normal up-standing positions when the alley is not in use.

With the above and other objects and advantages in vview the invention resides in the novel combination formation and arrangement of parts herein described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bowling alley embodying my improved pin setting mechanism, with parts of the alley broken away to more clearly disclose the structure.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rear end portion of the alley.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings 5 designates the floor of a bowling alley which is provided flanges 6 and spaced above the lioorby suitable legs 7, the alley preferably being formed in two sections con posed transversely nected by hooks section engageable with eyes ,9 on the inner legs of the other section, it being appreciated that any number of sections could be provided whereby the alley, when not in use, be disassembled to occupy a desired minimum space.

The rear end of the alley is downwardly off-set to. form a ball receiving well 10, the bottom of which is inclined toward one side ofthe alley for connection with a longitudinal ball retaining channel 11 at said side of the alley inclined downwardly toward the front end of the alley.

The pins 12 associated with this alley, of which three are shown in the present instance, are of the usual shape with the exception that extensions 13 are formed on the bottoms of said pins, and the alley is provided with longitudinal openings 14 corresponding in shape to the outlines of the pins. Depending from the floor of the' alley at the forward end of each opening is a bracket 15 carrying the rearwardly extending pin seating portion 16 to the rear edge of which is hinged a bottom plate 17 of a corresponding pin. Thus the pins are mounted whereby they may rest on the bracket portions 16 with their major portions upstanding through the forward ends of the openings 14 and may swing to fall through said openings, the pins being held in substantially horizontal position when fallen by downwardly bowed bars 18 disof the rear portions o the openings. In-set in the floor of the alley at the forward ends of the openings 14 are wear plates 19 cut away to receive the bottom portions of the pins.

For raising all the pins to their normal upstanding position, a pair of depending brackets 20 are carried by the alley floor forwardly of the pins and these brackets are longitudinally slotted to slidably receive the extended flange ends of an angle iron bar 21. Through the dependingflange of this bar is adjustably passed a series o eye bolts 22 corresponding in position to the longitudinal positions of the various pins. onnected to these eye bolts are rods 23 corresponding in number and position to the pins, and extending rearwardly to points adjacent and forwardly of the pin carrying brackets 15 for attachment to their inner ends of cables 23a which are trained about 8 on the inner legs of one pulleys 24 carried at the forward ends of the bracket portions 16, and secured to the bottoms of the pin extensions 13. Inasmuch as a common inconvenience in mechanisms ofl this nature is the liability of eX- pansion and contraction of the iiexible con-l nections between the pins and their common actuating member, aconsiderable advantage is procured by the rods 23 inasmuch as the lengths of theexible portions which in the present instance, comprise the cables 23" are reduced to a minimum wherein expansion and contraction due to weather changes or other causes is inconsiderable.

A lever 25 is intermediately pivoted to an upstanding arm 26 at the forward end of the alley, and connected to the lower end of this lever is a connection 27 which extends longitudinally of the alley for attachment to a ring 28 to which is also attached link members 29 connected with the end portions of the angle iron bar 21. Thus upon rocking the lever the pins will be swung to their normal upright position.

To loosen the iiexible connections 23 to permit thtl pins to be knocked down upon being struck by a ball retractile springs 30 are secured to the end portions of the angle iron bar and to the floor of the alley rear- -wardly thereof. The eye bolts 22 aiiord an adjustment whereby to procure a proper seating engagement of the pins individually upon their bracket portions 16 and to provide a general adjustment for the actuation o' the lever 25, a turnbuckle 3l is included in the link connection 27.

To automatically lock the pins in raised position, an upwardly inclined spring arm 33 projects from the forward end of the alley in the path of movement of the lower end of the lever 25 and has its outer end laterally turned to abut the lower extremity of the lever when said lever reaches its limit of movement in raising the pins. To free the pins after the operation of the alley the spring arm 33 is depressed by the operators foot and the springs 30 draw the angle lron bar 21 rearwardly to loosen the iexible connections 23 and to swing the lever 25 to. an initial or releasing position.

The rear portion of the alley is preferably inclosed in a suitable hood 33, the back wall of which carries a ball engaging cushion 34.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is obvious that to meet differing conditions of use, various modifications and changes of structure may be resorted to without departing in any manner from the spirit of the invention, as interpreted by the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling alley including a floor provided with openings, bracket members disposed at the forward ends of said openings, pins having their bottom portions pivoted to said brackets and adapted to seat thereon, said pins being movable into the openings, means limiting downward movement of the pins and means for swinging the pins to upstanding position.

2. A bowling alley including a floor provided with openings, pins having their bottom portions pivotally mounted below the forward ends of the openings, a member movable longitudinally of the alley forwardly of the pins, flexible connections between said pins and said member, said member being resiliently urged to a rearward position and means for moving said member forwardly to raise the pins, comprising a pivoted lever at the forward end of the alley, a link connecting said lever and said member and a spring arm secured at one end and inclined in the path of movement of the lever whereby to abuttingly engage the lever in one limit of its movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

HUGO LOEWENBACH.

Witnesses:

FRANK S. RATcLrrrn, M. E. DowNEY. 

